الفهرس 
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Abstract
The Studied area is located in the northen western part of Sinai
Peninsuia, between longitudes 32’ 20’ and ,32’ 45’ East and latiudes
29’ 50’ and 31’ 15’ North. It eztands between the Suez Canal in the
west and the Mediterranean Sea in the north and between Suez -
Nekhil Road in the south and Baloza-Ras Sider Road in the east.
To fulfill the propose of this investigation thirteen soil
profiles were selected to represent the prevalent geommorphic untis
covering the studied area which are:
1- Inland Hammada prom No.1.
2- Alluvial fan which is represented by profiles Nos. 3 and 5.
3- Coastal plain which is represented by profiles Nos.2,6,7 and 10.
4- Inland dunes which is represented by profiles Nos. 4,8,9 and 11
5- E-Tina plain which is represented by profiles Nos. 12 and 13.
The profiles were morphologicaly described and investigated for
their physical, chemical and mineralogical properties. The obtained data
could be summarized in the following:
PhYsical and chemical properties,
1- Soils orin/and Hammada
Soils of the inland Hammada geomorhpic unit are characterized
by sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture, almost neutral pH, high
salinity Na+ and I or Ca++dominate the soluble cations while Cl
dominated the soluble anions. The percentage of gypsum content ranges
from 4.68 to 9.460/0while that ofCaC03 is as highly as 17.9 to 31.7%
and organic matter content is extennely low.
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2- Soils of alluvial fan:
These soils have a coarser texture ranging from sandy clay loam to
sand . Soil reaction is moderately alkaline, nonsaline to modeately
saline. The cationic composition of soluble salts is dominated by Na+
while the anionic composition is dominated byCl . Gypsum and calcium
carbonate contents are relatively low within irregular distribution for
CaC03 with depth. Organic matter content is extremely low reflecting the
arid climatic conditions of the studied area.
3- Soils o(the coastal plain:
Texture of these soils ranges from sandy loam to sandy .Soil
reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline. Soil salinity differ from very
slightly saline to highly saline. Soluble cations are usually dominated by
Na followed by Ca . Soluble anions follow the order S04 = > cr > HC03 -
.Gypsum content ranges between 0.42 and 41.03 % with no specific
pattem of distribution throughout the entire depth of the studied profiles.
Organic matter content is very low .
4- Soils of inland dunes
These soils hve a textures varying from lomy sand to sand. Soil
reaction is slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (pH ranges from 7.83 to
8.9) .The soils are nonsaline to highly saline . Soluble cations are
dominated by Na+ followed by Ca++ , while soluble anions follow the
order S04 = »Cl’ > HC03- .Calcium carbonate content is relatively low
from 0.21 to 4.44 % , while organic matter content is extremely low.
5..Soils ofEI-Tina plain
These soils differ widely in their textures. Soil reacton is neutral
to moderately alkaline (pH ranges from 6.66 -8.1) . The soils are
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extremely saline .Soluble salts are dominated mainly by Na” followed by
MgH and lor CaH • Soluble anions follow the order cr >SO;>HC03”.
Gypsum content ranges from 3.45 to 6.16 % . Calcium carbonate content
is considerably low and ranges from 0.32 to 5.29 % , Organic matter
content is generally very low and does not exceed 1.4 0/0.
2- Grain size analX§1!
Sorting values indicate that transpartation and deposition of parent
material either took place by water or by wind action and lor both water
and wind actions.
Skewness values indicate that the studied soils are commonly
negatively skewed except for some layers of profiles 2,10,3,5,4,8,9, II,
12,and 13 which are positively skewed.
Kuitosis) values indicate that the sediments have coarse or less fine
mode.
Sorting,skewness, and laJirtosis values indicate the following:
Land form
transpartation and deposition of parent material
profile No.
Hammada plain Water and wind
1
Coastal plain Water
2,6,7,10
Alluvial fan
Water and wind
3,5
Inland dunes Wind
4,8,9,11
EL.Tina plain Water and wind
12,13
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3- Mineralol!Y..l?f.the sand fraction
l-Light minerals
Quartz predominates the light minerals content with less
pronouced amounts of feldspars, of which orthoclase and plagioclase are
the principal members while mcrocline is the least abundant.
2-Heavv minerals
Heavy minerals are dominated by opaques .Non opaques are
dominated by amphiboles, pyroxenes and epidote.Zircon, tourmaline,
rutile, garnet, Kyanite biotite and staurolite are present in relatively
moderate amounts, while silimanite, monazite, glauconite, titanite apatite
and andalusite are foound inless pronounced amounts.
The index figure ranges between 2.2 and 32.7 % . Moreover, a test
of uniformity and development of soil profiles leads to the conclusion
that the soils due to their multi- origin or due to the subsequent variations
along the course of sedimention, and therefore the soils are considered
young from the pedological view point.
4- Mineralogv of the clay fraction
The clay minerals suite is dominated by smectite (montmorillonite)
followed by Kaolinite . Interstratified minerals, vermiculite, illite .
chlorite and polygorskite are also detected but not in all samples and
form subordinate amounts of the mineralogical compoition.
Concerning the accessory minerals quartz and I or feldspars are the
most abundant ones yet. Gypsum is detected in trace amounts.
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5- Soil classification
Soil classification was carried out according to Soil Taxonomy
(1975, 1992 ,1994) down to the family level and the obtained soil
classification could be interoduced as follows
i-order Aridisols
Sub Order: Calcids
Great Kroup : Haplocalcids
Sub Kreat group: Typic Haplocalcids.
Family: CD Sandy,mixed thermic(profile 71
Sub great Kroup : Sodic Haplocalcids.
Family:( I)SandY,carbonitic, hyperthermic
(profile 2).
(2) Coarse loamy, mixed, hyperthermic
(profile 3).
Suborder :sa~
Great group:Haplosalids
Subereat group: Typic Haplosalids
Family: (I) Sandy,mixed thermic (profile 12)
Great eroup : Aguisalids
Subgreat group : Typic Aquisalids
Family: (l) fine IQamy,mixed,thermic
(profile 131.
Suborder: GYDsids
Great group : Calcigypsids
--”- -- ”--- -”-
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Subgreat group: Typic calcigypsids
Family:( l)fine loamy,mixed, hyperthermic
(profile 11
2-0rder : Entisols
Suborder: Orthents
Great group: Torriorthents
Subgreat group: Typic Torriorthents
Family: (l)coarse loamy. mixed, calcareous”
thermic,deep. (profile lO}
(2) coarse loamy, mixe4calcareous””,
hyperthermic,deep, (profile S1
(3)Sandy,mixed, calcareous, thermic
deep, (profile 6)
Suborder:Psarrunents
Great group: Torripsamments
Subgreat group: Typic Torripsamments
Famil : I mixed calcareous thermic rotile 4
(2) siliceous,thermic (profile 8,9, II}
6- Land evalution:
Considering soils evalution; these soils have been classified
according to Sys and Verheye (1978) To S2,S3 and N1 grades
_ S2 : Moderatly suitable profiles 1,3 and 6
_ 53 : Marginally suitable profiles 2,4,5,7,10,11,12
_ N1 : Currently not suitable profiles 8,9,13